Poem for Lee Ann Brown

I did not see you at the poetry reading or at the salad bar.
I did not see you at the salad bar at the poetry reading
Eating salad at the poetry reading where salad was served.
Where were you? I did not see you at the poetry reading where salad was served,
Eating salad.
You were not at the reading, reading poetry or eating salad
From the salad bar where salad was served at the poetry reading.
I did not see you at the poetry reading or at the salad bar
Where salad from the salad bar was served
And poets, who read poetry, ate salad that was served at the salad bar.
Were you there? If you were there I didn’t see you there.
I could not find you at the reading where poetry was read,
Where salad was served and eaten by poets who read poetry.
I could not find you. I looked everywhere.
I could not find you with the other poets eating salad from the salad bar
At the poetry reading where salad and poetry was served.
Critically acclaimed poets read poetry and salad was served
From a critically acclaimed salad bar
For critically acclaimed poets who read poetry that was critically acclaimed.
I listened to all the critically acclaimed poets and you missed it.
You were supposed to be there.
I heard them read poetry and eat salad served from a critically acclaimed salad bar.
The poetry was good. The poets were good and so was the salad.
I thought of you while I ate salad and listened to poetry.
I thought of you while I ate salad with Ron Padgett.
You should have heard Ron Padgett read his poetry.
You should have seen Ron Padgett eat salad.
Ron Padgett had a big salad.
I wish you could have been there to listen to poetry
With me at the poetry reading.
The poetry of the poets was as crisp as salad.

-------------------------------------

Shane Allison is a novelist, poet, anthologist and visual artist. His writings have appeared in West Wind Review, Gargoyle, Fence, Mississippi Review, New Delta Review, Spork, and others. His debut poetry collection Slut Machine is out from Queer Mojo and his second collection I Remember is out from Future Tense. His debut novelYou're The One That I Want is forthcoming from Strebor Books. Shane lives in Tallahassee, Florida. If you would like to purchase copies of his books, he can be reached at sdallison01@hotmail.com